I Kings 9:27 · Bible study
1 Kings 9:27 Commentary: Phoenician Seamen in Solomon's Red Sea Fleet
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore how Hiram sent skilled Phoenician sailors to join Solomon's Red Sea fleet, their expertise, and what it meant for Israel.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Hiram supplies skilled Phoenician sailors to work alongside Solomon's servants in the Red Sea fleet.
- Key words: 'sent' (H7971), 'servants' (H5650), 'knew' (H3045), 'sea' (H3220).
- Main debate: How did Mediterranean sailors reach the Red Sea? Proposed routes include a canal, overland transport, or existing Phoenician settlements.
- Theological theme: God uses the expertise of outsiders to advance His people's work; wisdom includes knowing what you lack.
- Best use: Teaching on collaboration, humility, and the value of practical skills in God's purposes.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And Hiram sent his servants, men who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Hiram sendeth in the navy his servants, shipmen knowing the sea, with servants of Solomon,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Hiram sent his servants in the fleet, sailors that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y envió Hiram en ellos á sus siervos, marineros y diestros en la mar, con los siervos de Salomón:
E enviou Hirão neles a seus servos, marinheiros e destros no mar, com os servos de Salomão:
Et Hiram envoya sur ces navires, auprès des serviteurs de Salomon, ses propres serviteurs, des matelots connaissant la mer.
Und Hiram sandte seine Knechte im Schiff, die gute Schiffsleute und auf dem Meer erfahren waren, mit den Knechten Salomos;
En Hiram zond met die schepen zijn knechten, scheepslieden, kenners van de zee, met de knechten van Salomo.
Hiram mandò su questa flotta, con la gente di Salomone, la sua propria gente: marinai, che conoscevano il mare.
I posłał Hiram na tychże okrętach sługi swe, żeglarze świadome morza, z sługami Salomonowymi;
И послал Хирам на корабле своих подданных корабельщиков, знающих море, с подданными Соломоновыми;
希蘭 差遣 他的僕人，就是熟悉 泛海 的船 家，與 所羅門 的僕人 一同坐船航海。
Hiram sent his servants, who were experienced seamen, in the sea-force with Solomon's men.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 9:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse records a pivotal moment of international cooperation: King Hiram of Tyre provides expert Phoenician seamen for Solomon's new Red Sea fleet at Ezion-Geber. Barnes notes the Phoenicians likely already had trading settlements on the Red Sea, making their knowledge of that region invaluable. The Cambridge Bible calls them 'the most famous people' for seafaring knowledge. Gill expands on the Tyrians' reputation, citing ancient sources that credit Tyre with inventing merchant ships. Lange's commentary, while not directly discussing this verse in detail, situates it within Solomon's broader building and economic programs. The collaboration is practical: Israel had land-based strengths, but lacked maritime experience. Hiram supplied what Israel needed, and the fleet's success (recorded in v.28) depended on these skilled sailors working alongside Solomon's own servants.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Geographical transfer: Sailors sailed from Tyre to the Red Sea via a canal or around Africa; relies on historical references to early circumnavigation (Gill, Barnes).
- Phoenician settlement on the Red Sea: Hiram already had a port in the Red Sea, so sailors moved from there to Ezion-Geber (Gussetius, cited by Gill).
- Overland travel: The sailors traveled by land from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea port; proposed by some modern commentators to explain the logistical challenge.
What is clear: Hiram sent skilled, experienced sailors to serve as crew in Solomon's Red Sea fleet, working alongside Solomon's own men.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Location of Ophir | It was a source of gold and other valuable goods accessed by Solomon's fleet. | Some identify it with Arabia, others with India or East Africa; no consensus on the exact site. |
| Route of Phoenician sailors to the Red Sea | The sailors were from the Mediterranean and served at Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea. | Some commentators propose a canal linking the seas; others think the sailors traveled overland or that Tyre already had Red Sea ports. |
| Degree of Israel's reliance on foreign expertise | Solomon's fleet depended on Phoenician seafaring knowledge. | Some see this as wise partnership; others raise concerns about becoming dependent on pagan nations. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The alliance between Solomon and Hiram of Tyre was already well-established. Hiram had provided timber and craftsmen for the temple (1 Kings 5:6-9). Now Solomon builds a fleet at Ezion-Geber, a port on the Red Sea in Edom (v.26). Tyre sat on the Mediterranean coast. For Phoenician sailors trained in Mediterranean navigation to serve in the Red Sea required either a long voyage around Africa or a land route. Gill explores contemporary suggestions: a canal connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, or boats disassembled and carried overland. He cites Gussetius, who proposed that Hiram himself had a Red Sea port built for eastern trade. . . . . . . . . This historical puzzle illustrates the remarkable logistical networks that undergirded Solomon's wealth. The collaboration with Phoenicians, who were the world's leading seafarers, shows how international trade and diplomacy brought together diverse expertise. Cross-references like 1 Kings 10:11 confirm that the same 'fleet of Hiram' later brought precious goods from Ophir, suggesting a sustained partnership.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is consistent across major manuscripts, and the differences between English translations are limited to style (e.g., 'navy' vs 'fleet', 'shipmen' vs 'sailors').
Reception History
Later Jewish commentators focused on the logistical question of how Tyrian sailors reached the Red Sea, as documented by Gill. Reformation-era readers like Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible treated the verse as an example of practical wisdom: Solomon used the best available experts. In Christian tradition, the partnership was sometimes seen as a foreshadowing of Gentiles serving the people of God. Modern historical-critical scholarship has concentrated on the economic and political context of the joint venture, using cross-references like 1 Kings 10:11 to reconstruct the nature and extent of Israelite-Phoenician trade.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God's provision through foreign expertise, Hiram's sailors were not Israelites, but God used them to bless Solomon's enterprise.
- The value of practical knowledge, the text emphasizes that these sailors 'knew the sea.' Skill matters in God's work.
- Partnership without absorption, the sailors served 'with the servants of Solomon'; cooperation did not erase identity.
Five-Point Outline
- Context: Solomon's fleet at Ezion-Geber (v.26), a new venture requiring unfamiliar skills.
- Hiram's contribution: skilled sailors, not just ships or materials.
- The phrase 'knowledge of the sea', Hebrew yod'e hayyam, implies experience, not just theory.
- Joint crews: 'his servants ... with the servants of Solomon', shared work, shared risk.
- Result: the mission to Ophir succeeded (v.28), God honored this cooperation.
Illustration Hooks
- A church plant in a fishing town asks experienced fishermen to help operate its outreach boat.
- A believer running a business hires consultants from another culture to enter a new market.
- A worship team invites a guest musician from a different tradition to lead a special service.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Is it okay for Christians to rely on non-Christian experts for important tasks?
- How do we balance using outside help with developing our own capabilities?
- Does God care about secular skills like sailing, engineering, or trade?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse opens a window into how God’s people worked with outsiders to achieve something great. It raises questions about wisdom, humility, and the place of expertise in God’s kingdom.
Discussion Questions
- What stands out to you about the detail that Hiram sent actual sailors, not just ships or supplies?
- Why do you think Solomon did not train his own sailors instead of hiring Phoenicians?
- The word 'knowledge' here is the Hebrew yadha', it implies experiential knowing. What kinds of 'knowledge of the sea' do we need in our own lives?
- How does this partnership between Israel and Tyre challenge or confirm your view of working with non-believers?
- What are some 'Red Sea ventures' in your life where you need to ask for help from someone with different experience?
- How can we recognize and honor God's gifts in people who do not yet know Him?
- How does the success of this joint mission (v.28) encourage you about collaboration in your church or workplace?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 5:6 | Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” |
| I Kings 5:9 | My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.” |
| I Kings 10:11 | The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones. |
| I Kings 22:49 | Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not. |
| II Chronicles 20:36 | He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. |
| II Chronicles 20:37 | Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to how Solomon entered an already active trade network. The Phoenicians likely had settlements on that sea, and commerce with Ophir was established by them or the Egyptians before Solomon decided to take part. The Egyptians had sailed that region from much earlier times.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator identifies the phrase as a direct reference to the ancient Phoenicians, who were renowned for their maritime expertise. The point draws a specific cultural and historical connection between the biblical text and the seafaring people most famous for that skill.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that Hiram did not merely lend ships but sent his own servants who were skilled mariners, men with practical knowledge of the sea, to accompany Solomon's servants. This detail highlights the specific expertise Hiram contributed to the joint venture.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill wrestles with the geographical puzzle of how Tyrian ships reached Solomon's Red Sea ports without a long detour around Africa. He notes various scholarly theories about a possible Tyrian port on the Red Sea or a water connection between the Mediterranean and Red Sea. He then highlights that the Tyrians were expert navigators, so Hiram sent experienced seamen to instruct Solomon's servants in this first recorded navy.